Visit Bluff Country

A guide to Historic Bluff Country

Fall Colors Come Alive in Bluff Country

by

Fall Colors Come Alive in Bluff Country

By Charlene Corson Selbee

Colorful hills along the Mighty Mississippi River.
Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee

Fall colors are beginning to bloom in Bluff Country. A wide palette of yellows, oranges, golds, browns, reds, and greens draw residents and visitors alike, to experience Bluff Country.

Whether taking photos, visiting apple orchards, buying colorful mums, enjoying corn mazes with your children, picking out the perfect pumpkin to grace your home, visiting a local farmers market, enjoying the fall decorations, or driving the seven

Yards and towns are decorated with whimsical decorations.
Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee

scenic byways, you are guaranteed to fall in love with Bluff Country.

Fall is also the time when farmers are out in the fields harvesting crops so enjoy the picturesque farm scenes. Be sure to watch for slow moving farm equipment while traveling the winding and hilly roads of Bluff Country.

There are seven Scenic Byways that wind their way through Bluff County including the Great River Road along the Mississippi River, the 17-mile Apple Blossom Scenic Byway that loops through La Crescent, Dakota and Nodine; the 88-mile Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway on Minnesota Hwy. 16 from Highway 90 near Dexter all the way to La Crescent;  the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway from Rochester south on US Hwy 63 to Spring Valley, follow MN 16 and US 52 to the Iowa border to Burr Oak; Highway 52 that connects Preston and Prosper is also known as the Amish Byway; the 32-mile Shooting Star Scenic Byway is a drive between Highway 56 and Highway 63 at Chester, Iowa and I-90; and the Driftless Area Scenic Byway in NE Iowa.

Upcoming Bluff  County events: 

• Now through October 21, SeptOberFest, Wabasha, Minn.

• September 28 – October 1, Oktoberfest, La Crosse, Wis.

• September 29 – October 1, NE Iowa Studio Arts Tour, Northeast Iowa towns

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining and shopping, check out the magazine in print or online at www.visitbluffcountry.com.